Prolotherapy involves a substance being injected into the body, usually surrounding damaged tendons or ligaments. The liquid acts as an irritant which stimulates the body's immune system to produce new, healing cartilage and collagen.
The benefit of prolotherapy is that it is a non-surgical procedure that can be administered in a clinic, saving patients from undergoing anesthesia and surgery followed by a long recovery period.
What preparations may be given before prolotherapy treatment?
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Abraham, Irwin. "Prolotherapy for Chronic Headache." Headache (April 1997): 256. Jennings, Suzanne. "The Prolotherapy Option." Forbes 152, no. 13 (December 1993): 248.
There are many websites that give more information about prolotherapy. See the Related Links for a list of some of these websites.
The term prolotherapy is derived from the word prolo, short for proliferation, as the therapy is intended to proliferate tissue growth in the damaged area.
Prolotherapy using injections was derived from a treatment developed by H.I. Biegeleisen called sclerotherapy, used to treat varicose veins .
In prolotherapy, a doctor injects a sugar water or salt water-based solution into the damaged ligament or tendon at the point where it attaches to the bone.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy: The Natural Solution for Pain. Mark T. Wheaton's Orthopedic Practice Page. http://www.wheatons.com/Prolotherapy_CommonQuestions.htm. (June 2000).
http://www.getprolo.com/florida_prolotherapy.htm
Though doctors have practiced prolotherapy for more than a half-century, it is still considered an alternative treatment; therefore most insurance policies don't cover it.